Class Notes
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J. Terry Macnamara, JD'60, was honored with the Omaha Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Robert J. Kmiecik, JD’87, and Jeffrey D. Toberer, JD’69, have been named co-managing partners of Stinson Morrison Hecker’s Omaha law office.
Frank Heinisch, JD’68, of Geneva has become a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is the 33rd lawyer in Nebraska to receive this honor. ACTEC is a professional association consisting of approximately 2,700 lawyers from through the United States. Fellows of the College are nominated by other Fellows in their geographic area and are elected by the membership at large. A lawyer cannot apply for membership in the College. Fellows are selected on the basis of professional reputation and ability in the fields of trusts and estates and on the basis of having made substantial contributions to these fields through lecturing, writing, teaching and other association activities. Heinisch has produced published works for his colleagues for many years; been the lead speaker at seminars on estate and probate issues for attorneys; and served in various posts for the Nebraska State Bar Association. His new Fellowship position acknowledges his years of service to help better the practice of law in the inheritance and estate tax area and with trusts and other probate issues. “This opens up the nation to me and that’s what really intrigues me,” Heinisch said.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Alumni Association bestowed its Citation for Alumnus Achievement upon Michael D. Jones, JD’69, during the university’s spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 5, at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Jones is a partner in the law firm of Ellick, Jones, Buelt, Blazek & Longo. The Citation is presented at each UNO commencement. The Alumni Association’s highest honor, it encompasses profession or career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. Jones was born in Bremerton, WA and lived in Omaha until he was five, then moved with his family to Wahoo. The family returned to Omaha when Jones was 17. He graduated from Benson High School. Jones attended then-Omaha University, joining Lambda Chi Alpha. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1966. He then studied at Creighton University School of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1969, graduating in the top 10 of his class. While at Creighton, Jones was on the Dean’s List and was a Law Review staff editor. In 1969 Jones joined Ellick, Spire & Langdon as an associate. Five years later, he was made a partner. He simultaneously was a captain with the U.S. Army Reserve (1969 to 1977), serving in a number to JAG units. While at his current firm, Jones has been named to the annual “Best Lawyers in America” list every year since 1989. He is a member of the Omaha, Nebraska State and American Bar Associations, a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (Nebraska State Chair, 1997-2003), and a national member of the Transfer Tax Committee (1995-present).
The Omaha law firm of Gross and Welch is now offering Mediation & Arbitration services. John W. Iliff, JD’83, Michael J. Mooney, JD’63, G. William Smits and Michael W. Pirtle all have litigation experience in addition to training to become practicing mediators in Nebraska & Iowa. Mediation and arbitration are voluntary processes that provide for greater participant control, customized agreements, and mutually satisfactory results. Examples of legal disputes mediation or arbitration can be used to resolve include personal injury, will contests, breach of contract, insurance issues, partnership and business issues, and boundary disputes.